Lila gazed at Livia's face, full of resentment, and sighed silently.

She had always felt her life was more miserable than Brenda's, which made her particularly bitter.

But now she realized that everyone was equal, and fate was fair.

Who truly had an easy life?

Lila walked to the balcony, looking out into the deep night sky, feeling a sense of loss.

Most of her life had passed, yet she stubbornly clung to her pain. What was the point?

Unconsciously, she recalled their youthful days together.

In those carefree days, they were bold and unafraid of getting hurt. But now, in old age, every step felt precarious. It was laughable.

Yet, she had grown accustomed to it.

Under the meticulous care of his friends, Absolon's health miraculously began to improve. At least at first glance, his face no longer looked deathly pale, which was undoubtedly a cause for celebration.

One morning, he even suggested that they all go camping in the countryside, as spring is the perfect time for camping.

Everyone readily agreed, packed their things, and set off for the outskirts.

"Gerard, my friend, you've been so busy lately that you haven't had time to rest. Today you can finally catch your breath a little. Could you leave your work laptop behind and just enjoy a day of fun?" Lilah watched helplessly as Gerard stuffed his laptop into his bag.

"Alright, as you wish." Gerard wrapped his arm around her waist, noticing she had lost some weight recently. "Later, we'll have a barbecue, and I'll grill some meat for you."

The countryside was indeed delightful, surrounded by shade trees, with birds singing and flowers blooming. By the time they arrived, many others were already camping by the lake, and the enticing aroma of barbecue wafted through the air, making it all the more inviting.

Gerard and Cason took it upon themselves to set up the tent, finding a spacious spot to pitch camp and unpacking the tables, chairs, and barbecue grill.

After some effort, everything was finally in order.

Just as the charcoal fire was starting to burn, Gerard's phone rang. It was Calvin calling to inform him that a business partner from overseas had arrived earlier than expected and wanted him to return for a meeting.

Lilah was visibly annoyed. "Can't Calvin handle it?"

Caught between two commitments, Gerard came up with a compromise. He asked Calvin to take the guest to a nearby resort, just a half-hour drive away, promising to accompany the guest for an hour or two before returning to join them.

Lilah understood how busy he had been, with many tasks piling up, and realized this was the best solution. So she reluctantly agreed.

"Oh no! A snake!" A scream suddenly pierced the air, and everyone turned to see Joselyn jumping aside in a panic.

"Are you hurt?" Absolon was the first to rush over, checking her from head to toe, noticing a scratch on her calf from a shrub, bleeding slightly.

"No, I'm fine." Joselyn awkwardly brushed his hand aside, instinctively glancing at the others.